British vs American English

British and American English share a language but differ in spelling, vocabulary, and a few punctuation habits. Neither is "more correct" — the rule is to be consistent.

What it is

Two major standard varieties of English. British English is used in the UK, and is common in Nigeria, Ghana, India, Australia, and much of the Commonwealth. American English is used in the US, Canada, and increasingly online.

The main differences

Spelling.

• -our vs -or: colour (UK), color (US); honour / honor; favour / favor.
• -re vs -er: centre (UK), center (US); theatre / theater; metre / meter.
• -ise/-yse vs -ize/-yze: organise (UK; also organize), analyze (US). Both are accepted in UK usage.
• -ae/-oe vs -e: archaeology (UK), archeology (US); manoeuvre (UK), maneuver (US).
• -l- vs -ll-: travelled (UK), traveled (US); labelled / labeled.
• -ogue vs -og: catalogue (UK), catalog (US); analogue / analog.

Vocabulary. Common swaps: flat/apartment, lift/elevator, queue/line, petrol/gas, biscuit/cookie, fortnight/two weeks, holiday/vacation, rubbish/trash, football/soccer, nappy/diaper.

Punctuation.

• Quotation marks: UK often uses single (') inside double, US uses double (") — and the two conventions differ on where punctuation sits. Pick one and keep the inside/outside rule consistent.
• The serial comma before "and" in a list: more common in US English, optional and style-dependent in UK English.
• Full stops after abbreviations and titles vary by style guide.

When to use which

Follow the publication, client, or institution. If a magazine is American, use American English; if it is British, use British. When in doubt, pick the variety your audience is used to.

How to stay consistent

Pick one variety and set your spellchecker to it. This catches the most errors automatically.

Keep a small cheat sheet of the words you personally get wrong, in the order you use them.

Do not mix within a piece. "Colour" in one paragraph and "color" in the next is the most common and most avoidable inconsistency.

Check proper names. Company and place names keep their own spelling (e.g. "Theatre" in a company name).

Common mistakes

Mixing spellings within one document. Using a word from the wrong variety (e.g. "lift" in a US-focused piece). Assuming a client's country from their name. Forgetting that many words (like "organise/analyze") are accepted in both but must be consistent.

Practical tips

• When in doubt, keep a consistent dictionary. Accept one variety throughout.
• Use the serial comma consistently or not at all per style.
• Match punctuation style to the publication's guidance.

Checklist

• I chose one variety (British or American).
• I set my spellchecker to that variety.
• I checked the words I often get wrong.
• No mixed spellings within the piece.
• I matched the variety to the publication or client.
• I was consistent with the serial comma and quotation marks.